[1][2] In 1961, the initial campaign raised $1 million for construction on Lake Avenue.

[2] The Council raised money through subscriptions, pledges, advance gifts, and a benefit ball at the historic Pere Marquette.

[1] Phase 1 contained a planetarium that broke ground on April 10, 1962 and opened on June 9, 1963.

[1] The 36-foot planetarium was set as the sun in the largest to scale mock solar system as recognized the Guinness Book of Records in 1992.

[4] [5] The museum broke ground on July 19, 1963[1] and the galleries opened on March 28, 1965.